Delicious Ingredients: Best Podcasts for 9/30-10/6/17

Each week I will publish the most Delicious Ingredients of my Audible Feast … the scrumptious, delectable, savory, rich, sweet, spicy, and best podcasts that have fed my ears this week. They’re listed in no particular order. You can see what I’ve been listening to here to see the competition these shows beat out to earn their spot as the best of the week.

My playlist is accessible on RadioPublic at the link below, which will take you directly to the playlist if you have the app where you can hit “follow” to get the Delicious Ingredients weekly. If you don’t have the app, get it from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Russia House, Episode 2: Send in the Swans (4/7/17) *First appearance on Delicious Ingredients*: What it’s about: “When Russians hear this music, it’s time to panic.” Why it’s great: Thanks to #2PodsADay, I learned about this storytelling show all about Russia. I haven’t tried out any other episodes yet but this one was awesome, about how the government (ostensibly?) will play Swan Lake over the radio to signify that “everything is okay” when it is clearly not. (22 minutes)
Twitter: @russiapodcast

Why Oh Why, Episode 49: Birth Control By Stapler (10/5/17): What it’s about: “The arm implant, known as Nexplanon, is a birth control option that’s slightly more effective than the IUD, and less painful to insert. Why aren’t we all using it? Why Oh Why’s Lindsey Kratochwill investigates.” Why it’s great: I have had an IUD twice, and never thought getting it or getting it out was painful, which is the main reason people apparently don’t want to get one, but this episode was great for people who want to know more about another option. It will absolutely resonate with millennials and I loved listening to Kratochwill go through the process step by step herself. Destigmatize lesser known birth control methods! (32 minutes)
Twitter: @andreasilenzi

Radiotopia Showcase: The Polybius Conspiracy, Episode 1: The Player (10/6/17) *First appearance on Delicious Ingredients*: What it’s about: “In Episode One: The Player, an investigation into the origins of the Polybius legend leads to Bobby, who claims the game was responsible for his abduction as a teenager. In the thirty-five years since, Bobby has remained steadfast with his story, going so far as to organize a for-profit walking tour while obsessively searching for the one person he believes could corroborate his allegations. Local players from the Portland arcade scene cast doubt on Bobby’s story, as do journalists who refute the game as ever having existed.” Why it’s great: I always get excited to hear about new shows in advance, and they often make it on this list just because I’m excitable. I also listened to episode 2 and I am going to love this series, no matter how many episodes there are in it. I can see why it’s part of the Showcase series instead of a standalone show, there will definitely be a conclusion to the story in several episodes. I can totally hear the Radiotopia influence in sound design, pacing, and storytelling. (35 minutes)
Twitter: @polybiuspod

Uncivil: The Raid (10/4/17): What it’s about: “A group of ex-farmers, a terrorist from Kansas, and a schoolteacher attempt the greatest covert operation of the Civil War.” Why it’s great: I already commented in my newsletter that I don’t know how I missed that this show was coming from Gimlet, but when I heard Chenjerai Kumanyika was one of the hosts I was thrilled. The Civil War is fascinating and sadly relevant in 2017. (26 minutes)
Twitter: @uncivilshow

Planet Money, Episode 797: Flood Money (9/29/17): What it’s about: “Bill Pennington’s house floods a lot: Three times in the last three years. And every time his house floods, the government pays to help him repair the damage. Is something wrong here?” Why it’s great: I live in Houston so I am familiar with the type of neighborhood Mr. Pennington lives in, and why he doesn’t want to leave. This episode did a great deep-dive into the financial reasons someone would have to stay instead of leave when they just have to keep rebuilding all the time. (20 minutes)
Twitter: @planetmoneyRead my 5-star review of Planet Money here! (September 2015)

Code Switch: Puerto Rico, My Heart’s Devotion (10/3/17): What it’s about: “The haphazard response to Hurricane Maria has underscored the tricky, in-between space that Puerto Ricans occupy. They’re U.S. citizens — although nearly half of the country doesn’t know that. But those who live in Puerto Rico don’t enjoy many of the same privileges as citizens on the mainland. In this week’s episode, Shereen travels to one of the most Puerto Rican enclaves in the country to explore the fraught relationship Puerto Ricans have with their American-ness.” Why it’s great: Shereen + any story where she gets emotional = ILOVEITSOMUCH. This should be required listening – Americans need to understand the relationship Puerto Ricans have with “our” “shared” government. (22 minutes)
Twitter: @nprcodeswitchRead my 4-star review of Code Switch here! (October 2016)

Dirty John, Episode 1: The Real Thing (10/2/17) *First appearance on Delicious Ingredients*: What it’s about: “Debra Newell, an interior designer in Southern California, meets John Meehan on an over-50 dating site. His profile looks exciting: Anesthesiologist, divorced, Christian. She falls in love fast. But her children dislike him and warn her that his stories don’t add up. A psychologist advises Debra to set firmer boundaries with her kids, saying she has a right to be happy.” Why it’s great: This show is getting some hype in the podcircles in which I travel, so I figured I’d check it out. New episodes have been out every day or every other day this week, and I believe there are only six episodes in total, but it’s worth a listen, the story is somewhat S-Town-ish. Eccentric characters, most fairly unlikable, add vs. distract from the just plain weird story that is the life of Dirty John. (43 minutes)
Twitter: @realdirtyjohn

A Pint with Seaniebee, Episode 63: Antonio Fernandez (KING TONE) has A Pint with Seaniebee (9/30/17): What it’s about: “This is an astonishing story of redemption and by far the most controversial and polarizing guest we’ve had on the show so far. Antonio Fernandez, aka KING TONE, is the former leader of The Latin Kings, the largest Hispanic street gang in the US, with over 50,000 members worldwide.” Why it’s great: I can’t fathom interviewing a gangster, whether he is reformed or not, and keeping my shit together. Sean Boyle is totally in his element and handles King Tone so intelligently, focusing both on Fernandez’s past and how he’s turned his life around. I enjoyed listening to Boyle mirror Fernandez’s energy throughout the interview. (74 minutes)
Twitter: @seaniebeeRead my 4-star review of A Pint with Seaniebee here! (June 2016)

Longform, Episode 262: PJ Vogt of Reply All (Part 2) (9/20/17): What it’s about: “PJ Vogt is the co-host of Reply All. “Every radio story is broken. Everything is missing some piece it’s supposed to have. Everything has some weird interview that didn’t go the way you thought it was going to go, or you thought you had an answer but you were wrong.”” Why it’s great: One thing I enjoy about Reply All, Vogt’s show, is how honest he and co-host Alex Goldman are and how sometimes they play a role in the stories they’re reporting on. I particularly enjoyed Vogt’s candor about his candor in this interview. (55 minutes)
Twitter: @longformpodcast

Varmints!, Episode 51: Irma (9/30/17): What it’s about: “On this special episode of Varmints! for International Podcast Day, join Paul and his family on their journey evacuating from Hurricane Irma.” Why it’s great: This is not a typical Varmints! episode, although host Paul Csomo does answer a few questions in the middle about animals. This is a pure, undoctored diary of how and why Csomo and his family evacuated their home in western Florida as Hurricane Irma approached. It was so touching to hear Paul talk about his feelings – at time his voice was even breaking – especially since he has been through many, many hurricanes before. There are 4AM Walmart parking lot journals, family discussions, and an interlude with another podcast host where they just talk about how they’ve been coping through the disruption the storm caused. It was touching and human. (104 minutes)
Twitter: @varmintspodcast